Purple Hearts
I was just reading about Sen. Murtha’s change of heart on Iraq. Nothing too surprising there, visits some vets, looks at the costs of the war, looks at the insurgency targeting US troops, and how the troops might be adding to instability, and wonders if it isn’t time to bring them home. And of course Cheney says he is unpatriotic. Whatever, you can read about it anywhere. The thing that caught my eye was the fact that Murtha had to intervene to get one of the troops he was talking to a purple heart:
“I was praising him, saying how proud we were of him and how much we appreciate his service to the country. `Anything I can do for you?’ His mother said, `Get him a Purple Heart.’ I said, `What do you mean, get him a Purple Heart?’” Murtha recounted.
Because he had been injured by friendly fire, the military had said he did not qualify for the honor.
“I met with the commandant. I said, `If you don’t give him a Purple Heart, I’ll give him one of mine,’” said Murtha. “And they gave him a Purple Heart.”
WHAT?! They don’t give purple hearts to soldiers injured by friendly fire?! That is nuts. Someone over there, risking their lives every day gets injured and we don’t even recognize their sacrifice? Ugh.
November 26th, 2005 at 18:29
The whole awards system is screwy, and has been for years.
I will admit to some personal bitterness here: I was awarded a medal, but it was taken away in “review.”